Western Isles gain more social homes say SNP

Published:07:25Friday 04 March 2016

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Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, highlighted figures this week which indicate that twice as many social sector homes in the Western Isles have been completed under the SNP than over the same period of the former Labour-LibDem administration.

Under the previous Labour-LibDem administration there were 147 social sector homes built in the islands while there have been 304 since the SNP came to office in 2007.

Mr Allan commented: “Despite suffering large cuts to Scotland’s capital budget, these figures show that in Government the SNP has managed to deliver on its promise of more affordable housing by delivering twice the number of social sector homes than the previous administration, while nationally almost 20% more social sector homes have been delivered.

“The SNP in Government have a proven record on housing, having exceeded our target to deliver 30,000 affordable homes in this Parliament, but we have been clear that more has to be done.

“If the SNP are re-elected in May, our target in the next Parliament will be to build at least 50,000 new affordable homes.

“As the first step towards this we will be increasing the budget for affordable housing by £90 million, enabling us to invest around £690 million in housing supply.

“Here in the Western Isles housing is a key issue with a lack of affordable housing, ageing stock and houses poorly equipped to retain heat.

“I realise there is a real demand for affordable housing in the islands, and want to see more happen in the next Parliament to keep addressing this pressing local need.

“People in the islands can judge us on our record of delivery and trust us to keep the Western Isles and Scotland moving forward.”